Vanderbilt Cup Races

In 1905-06 Walter Christie entered his “freak” front wheel drive Christie racer.  It was unique mostly because the car was front wheeled drive.  It had to be considered direct drive with gears at the tail of each crankshaft, which means presumably without an in and out box setup if the engine was running the car was moving.

Robertson drove it in the ‘05 elimination race, DNQed but the car was permitted in the ‘05 Cup race with Christie at the wheel.  The race ended with a pit exit crash of the Lancia and the Christie tangling leaving both cars as SNFs.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine

-Identify the Vanderbilt Cup Race car, its driver and the year(s) it competed in the Vanderbilt Cup Races.

Walter Christie’s 1905 front wheel drive racer that technically never raced in the intended 1906 Cup Race. One day prior to the 1906 American Elimination Trial, Christie hit a telegraph pole during practice due to steering issues. He and mechanic Lewis Strang were uninjured.  He replaced the racer with his 50-HP Christie touring car.
Christie competed in the 1905 & 1906 Cup Races with 2 teams each race. A total of 6 racers over his career.

-What was unique about the engine?

Other than his racers being uniquely front wheel drive, the engine also appears to be in a ‘V’ configuration, also not common for touring/race cars of the day.

From Mystery Foto #13 Solved: A Unique 1906 Transverse V-4 Christie Front-Wheel Drive Engine

Much appreciation to Mr. Femenias for his positive response on my initial LIAM update comment and while Frank’s response, i.e., “This site needs to be registered as an historic site” has definite merit, registration and designation as a “historic site” comes with a number of pitfalls and restraints not needed if someone is otherwise careful in preservation, restoration and maintains a focused dedication and sympathy to the original design, basic construction, purpose and automotive significance.  I would still like to see everything preserved that Henry put into the facility one way or another - Heritage Matters.  Thanks HK for accepting my comments for posting.

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

Long lost treasures of historic photos! This is truly an amazing find. Hats off to Barbara Z. and Howard for taking the time to share these gems. Anticipating more will surface in the near future. Keeping my fingers crossed.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Here is an image of driver Camille Jenatzy.

You can now download images with your VanderbiltCupRaces.com comments.

From VanderbiltCupRaces.com Exclusive: High-Resolution Photos of the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I echo the comments of Mr. Richards, it’s the best avenue for Jane and a collection such as this.

From Hemmings Blog: Tupelo Automobile Museum to close, sell off collection including Tucker 1028

Mark - the way you describe the Thomas Flyer is exactly the way I recall it at LIAM (I never did make it out to Harrah’s).  Hmm.  Anyone else recall that?  Photos?  There are a gazillion pix on line but I’m not sure which, if any, are at LIAM.  Sam, III

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

Ditto to Francis G. Clax. This site needs to be registered as an historic site before changes are made to it. Not sure but it could already be in process thanks to its current owner.

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

Perhaps, not the ‘best’ desired current utilization of the ex- Henry Austin Clark, Jr. LIAM garages/facility however utilization as such is better than leaving it abandoned to rust into the ground and be re-claimed by vines & weeds.  Hopefully the current owners will work to seriously maintain the originality of the buildings and structures and put their stamp on this chapter in the on-going LIAM preservation story.  Hopefully someday the entire facility can be reclaimed as part of a new vehicle museum.

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

I forgot to mention I was there a week before it close. Hey all was the museum the first vintage auto museum in the country at the time??

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

Yes Howard thanks for the update. And thanks Walt for your memories of them days. Thought the place would be demolish for some deluxe shopping plaza like the others in the area. I’ve been there in about 1957? me a preteen? a car nut even then, had saw the historic dilapidate Thomas Flyer on the display, saw it again at Harrah’s Museum in about 1977? restored complete with the emergency stuff and some fake mud splatter like on that winning NY to Paris run on some platform with a scenery behind. Nice memories!

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

Mark DeSantis

I am very sorry to hear this, he was a wonderful person and an awesome car guy. Please let us know the wonderful arrangements.

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Felice Rosenberg Makowsky

Wonderful man…I lived next door to Guy when I was in my 20’s. He was the best neighbor! I have many fond and fun memories… RIP my friend.

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Dear carol,
So wonderful that you remember Bill. I am sorry to say he passed away May 30 2016. I do remember your grandfather he was wonderful please feel free to call any time.
elise holloway palm beach gardens fl…Those were the days my friend!

From From the Grace Holloway Family Album: Photos of the Old Westbury Home Built by Driver Foxhall Keene

Linda Brickman

Guy served on the Historic Landmarks Preservation Commission from 1992 until 2015. His invaluable expertise in historic architecture as well as his humor were an important contribution to the Commission’s decision making. He was always available to be the Commission’s eyes in the field when there were intricate details or unexpected complications at a site in construction.

He will be missed.

Linda Stein Brickman, RA
Executive Secretary to the Commission

From A Tribute to Guy Frost (1934-2019)

Thanks for the update, Howard.  As an ex-Long Islander, I often think about the Museum where I was given a ride on the Shady Hollow (was that the name) fire truck as a 7-year-old.

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone

And the tree-lined Motor Parkway in the back ascending towards the Stewart Ave bridge. Hoping there is captioning on this photo.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: #6 Hotchkiss driven by Elliot Shepard Jr. in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Unable to find information on this racer but the driver looks similar to Foxhall Keene, and more like Joe Tracy. Also a long shot with just few hints to go by, the location (looking north) looks alarmingly similar to the Motor Parkway ground breaking ceremony site in Bethpage (Central Park). Could this racer be pointing east on Motor Lane? There should be RR tracks at the center of that patch of grass but I don’t see it.

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: #6 Hotchkiss driven by Elliot Shepard Jr. in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

Looks like Louis Chevrolet in a strangely shrunken FIAT.  :·)  Sam, III

From Mystery Foto #12 Solved: #6 Hotchkiss driven by Elliot Shepard Jr. in the 1906 Vanderbilt Cup Race

I’ve long since documented my many adventures with (and thanks to) Austie so I won’t repeat them here but what a great guy, what a grand museum, and what fab cars Who flew the chopper for the movie?  What ever happened to the Curved Dash Olds exposed to the elements above the entrance (was it real)?  Yeeks; the satellite view now, <http://sbiii.com/autopix/liam2019.jpg>, is just incredible - “cleaned up”, indeed!  Thanks again, Howard.  Sam, III

From Sad News: The buildings of the Long Island Automotive Museum are gone